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STATE OF BRITAIN IN A.D. 71.

57 on the throne, sent Cerialis, a kinsman of his own, of whom we have heard before, to take the command. Cerialis, who, as we shall hear in the next chapter, had an able lieutenant in Cn. Julius Agricola, conquered a considerable portion of the territory of the Brigantes, thus advancing the Roman frontiers considerably to the northward. In 75 he was succeeded by Julius Frontinus, an able general, who found it necessary to re-conquer the Silures. Of the successor of Frontinus I shall speak in the next chapter.

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VII.

AGRICOLA IN COMMAND.

IN A.D. 78, the Emperor Vespasian, who had himself risen to the throne by merit, and who was keen to appreciate it in others, sent Cnaeus Julius Agricola to take charge of the province of Britain. A happier choice could not have been made. Agricola, whose ife has been told by his son-in-law, Tacitus the

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historian, in what is, perhaps, the most beautiful of ancient biographies, was a great soldier, a wise administrator, and a gracious, blameless man. It was in Britain that he had seen his first service, holding the honorary rank of tribune, and acting as

THE ORDOVICES.

59

aide-de-camp to Suetonius Paulinus in that general's expedition to Mona and conflict with Boadicea. Ten years afterwards (A.D. 70), he had returned to the island, and had commanded the Twentieth Legion under the Governors Bolanus and Cerialis with great distinction and success. Shortly after the expiration of his term of command he had been appointed to the government of Aquitania; 2 which he held for between two and three years, winning golden opinions by his moderation and integrity. From this he was recalled to take up the consulship at Rome.3 In the following year he proceeded, as has been said, to Britain.

He landed in the summer. The Ordovices, a tribe occupying the country now known by the name of North Wales, had almost destroyed a force of auxiliary cavalry stationed in their country. Military affairs in the province seem to have been somewhat disorganized, and it was doubted whether the new commander would immediately avenge this disaster. The summer indeed was over before he was in a position to march. Even then his force was but small. But he acted with vigour and boldness. The Britons kept to their hills,

This word fairly expresses the position of a contubernalis, literally a "tent messmate." Young Romans of rank were sent to learn soldiering under some general of repute. They lived in his quarters, and, if they showed any capacity, were employed on staff duties.

2

Aquitania was a province of Western Gaul, lying between the Garonne (Garumna) and the Loire (Liger). The name was corrupted into Guienne.

3 Agricola appears from the Fasti Consulares to have been Consul during the latter half of the year 77, the Emperor Vespasian, who had held the office from the beginning of the year, himself making way for him.

but he attacked them on their own ground, and almost destroyed the whole tribe. He was now in the near neighbourhood of Mona, and resolved to complete the conquest of the island, interrupted eighteen years before. His plans had been matured in haste, and he had no ships in which to transport his army. He did not allow this to stop him. He had in his force some auxiliaries-probably Batavi from the Lower Rhine-who were particularly skilful swimmers. He gave orders to these that they were to enter the water and cross the channel. The natives, who had not imagined that an enemy without boats would venture to attack them, were stupefied by his boldness, and surrendered without making any attempt at resist

ance.

No special movements of the troops are recorded as having taken place in the following year. Agricola, however, kept his army employed, and continued to complete the conquest of the country already overrun by the Roman arms. But he was chiefly employed in pacifying the conquered people and redressing their grievances. "The experience of his predecessors had taught him," says Tacitus, very probably using his own words, "that little could be done by war, except the causes of hostile feeling were rooted out." The officials employed in the government of the province were put under a severe control. No business of importance was entrusted to freedmen or slaves, and no promotion was given either to civilian or soldier except for merit, while various gross abuses

1 See p. 49.

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